M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This study explores how other music therapists and mental health professionals process and reflect on their sessions and what issues are relevant and instrumental in achieving this. The primary focus is on an acute psychiatric ward for adolescents. The intent is to improve my ability to process and reflect on my clients’ responses and actions during and after future Music Therapy sessions. Research began by exploring the various ways of processing content that emerge during sessions by exploring the literature, interviewing an Occupational Therapist and a Clinical Psychiatrist from the unit and by analysing my reflective journal. Using multiple sources of information, methods, techniques and theories I will endeavour to uncover meaning, improve my understanding and thus improve my future practice. The initial perspective was endeavouring to discover how a therapist can better reflect on or process their sessions. Findings showed that the therapist processing with intent to “fix” or “cure” a client is misdirected. Through self-reflection, observation, ‘mindfulness’ , empathy, awareness of countertransference and several other tools, a therapist is able to become client-centred and potentially assist the client to self-reflect and develop mindfulness. The way in which a therapist processes and reflects is often influenced by an underlying psychodynamic theory that they adhere to. Experience and training can also influence this processing. With this client group, it is difficult to fully comprehend what a client is feeling or thinking. A therapist best serves the client by initially focusing on the client-therapist relationship. By building a trusting, safe environment, meeting the clients where they are emotionally or physically and by making exercises meaningful, clients needs can begin to be met. This all contributes to the ultimate goal of the therapy at this unit - to help clients “gain skills, gain independence and gain wellness”.

Text in Afrikaans / In die verhandeling word daar gepoog om vas te stel of selfdeterminasie wel as 'n beginsel in maatskaplike werk, deur die maatskaplike werkers van die Hoeveldstreek in Mpumalanga, erken en toegepas word. Die ondersoek het ten doel om te bepaal vanuit watter teoretiese raamwerk die maatskaplike werkers hulle dienslewering rig en hoe die beginsel selfdeterminasie binne die werkers se teoretiese raamwerk geakkommodeer en aangespreek word. Die ekosistemiese benadering is deur navorser gebruik as teoretiese raamwerk. Die inhoud word weergegee in terme van 'n literatuurstudie, waarin die beginsel selfdeterminasie, as sodanig aangespreek word, dan die epistemologie van die maatskaplike werker, asook die uitwerking van selfdeterminasie op dienslewering aan kliente. Inligting is verkry deur middel van 'n vraelys wat deur maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk voltooi is. Die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gee 'n aanduiding van hoe selfdeterminasie erken en toegepas word en hoe die maatskaplike werkers die beginsel akkommodeer met betrekking tot hulle epistemologie. / In this dissertation the attempt is made to establish whether selfdetermination as a principle in social work is acknowledged and applied by the social workers of the Highveld region in Mpumalanga. The aims of the research were to establish the theoretical frame of reference which directs the social workers services and how the principle of self-determination within the social workers frame of reference is accommodated and applied in practice. The researcher has used as her theoretical frame of reference the ecosystemic approach. The contents of the dissertation is presented in terms of a literature study, in which the principle and the effect of self-determination on the services of the social worker to her clients, as well as her theoretical frame of reference is addressed. Information was obtained by means of a questionnaire which was completed by social workers in the field. The conclusions and recommendations give an indication of how selfdetermination is acknowledged and applied and if the social workers accommodated the principle of self-determination with their epitemology. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

Text in Afrikaans / In die verhandeling word daar gepoog om vas te stel of selfdeterminasie wel as 'n beginsel in maatskaplike werk, deur die maatskaplike werkers van die Hoeveldstreek in Mpumalanga, erken en toegepas word. Die ondersoek het ten doel om te bepaal vanuit watter teoretiese raamwerk die maatskaplike werkers hulle dienslewering rig en hoe die beginsel selfdeterminasie binne die werkers se teoretiese raamwerk geakkommodeer en aangespreek word. Die ekosistemiese benadering is deur navorser gebruik as teoretiese raamwerk. Die inhoud word weergegee in terme van 'n literatuurstudie, waarin die beginsel selfdeterminasie, as sodanig aangespreek word, dan die epistemologie van die maatskaplike werker, asook die uitwerking van selfdeterminasie op dienslewering aan kliente. Inligting is verkry deur middel van 'n vraelys wat deur maatskaplike werkers in die praktyk voltooi is. Die gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gee 'n aanduiding van hoe selfdeterminasie erken en toegepas word en hoe die maatskaplike werkers die beginsel akkommodeer met betrekking tot hulle epistemologie. / In this dissertation the attempt is made to establish whether selfdetermination as a principle in social work is acknowledged and applied by the social workers of the Highveld region in Mpumalanga. The aims of the research were to establish the theoretical frame of reference which directs the social workers services and how the principle of self-determination within the social workers frame of reference is accommodated and applied in practice. The researcher has used as her theoretical frame of reference the ecosystemic approach. The contents of the dissertation is presented in terms of a literature study, in which the principle and the effect of self-determination on the services of the social worker to her clients, as well as her theoretical frame of reference is addressed. Information was obtained by means of a questionnaire which was completed by social workers in the field. The conclusions and recommendations give an indication of how selfdetermination is acknowledged and applied and if the social workers accommodated the principle of self-determination with their epitemology. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

This thesis explores the position of Person-Centred Approach (PCA) in the practice of Czech clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who went through the PCA psychotherapy training and they use this approach in their current clinical practice. The main principles of PCA theory (1), principles of biomedical model in which clinical practice is rooted (2) and the new forms of person-centred psychopathology and psychodiagnosis (3) are the theoretical background of the following research. Based on the qualitative analysis of five recorded interviews (three clinical psychologists, two psychiatrists) the experience of the respondents is organised as comprehensive concepts concerning various areas and topics of the clinical practice (diagnosis, psychotherapy, dealing with PCA, dealing with biomedical model, therapeutic relationship, relation to the profession). Several common mechanisms are identified in the concept's dynamics. Through these mechanisms Person-Centred Approach is applied in areas and activities mentioned. The concepts based on experience and the PCA application mechanisms enrich the theories and ongoing research of PCA practice in the Western mental health care. Key words: Person-Centred Approach, Client-Centred Therapy, psychiatry, clinical psychology, psychotherapy, psychodiagnosis,...